Barge-carried oil well drilling equipment



May 3, 1960 H. J. WOOLSLAYER ETAL 2,934,905

BARGE-CARRIED OIL WELL DRILLING EQUIPMENT Filed Dec. 16, 1957 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTORS.

I HOMER J. 06m SLA r52,

8 CECIL JENKINS.

y 1960 H. J. WOOLSLAYER ET AL 2,934,905

BARGE-CARRIED OIL WELL DRILLING EQUIPMENT 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Dec.

INVENTORS. HOMER J- CWESOLsLA YEE, CECIL JENKINS.

llnited rates atent BARGE-CARRIED OIL WELL DRILLING EQUIPMENT Homer J. Woolslayer and Cecil Jenkins, Tulsa, Okla., assignors to Lee C. Moore Corporation, Pittsburgh, Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvania Application December 16, 1957. Serial No. 702,995

11 Claims. (Cl. 61-465) This invention relates to the drilling of offshore 'oil Patented May 3, 1960 2 oil well drilling rig being transferred as a unit from a barge to a marine platform;

Fig. 2 is a vertical section taken on the line II-II of I rolling; and

wells, and more particularly to transferring oil well drillbarge, from which the rig must be transferred to the platform. As large cranes are not readily available under such circumstances, quite a problem arises when it comes to transferring large components of the rig, such as the substructure and mast, from the barge to the platform and later from the platform back to the barge. Derrick barges capable of handling these large compo nents do not exist in large numbers, and they are generally found only in locations of considerable activity which might be hundreds of miles from a new location where their services are needed.

' It is among the objects of this invention to provide oil well drilling equipment, in which all of the elements of the drilling rig can be transferred from a barge to a drilling platform and vice versa without recourse to a crane or derrick, in which the mast and substructure can be transferred as a unit, in which the transfer can be made to a different level, and in which the power of the drawworks itself is used to effect the transfer.

In accordance with this invention the skid base of an oil well mast rests on a track mounted on one end of a barge. The track may be horizontal or inclined up away from the barge. The base supports the drawworks and engines. Hinged to the base is the foot of a reclining mast that extends lengthwise of the barge and has its head located at the opposite end of the barge. A crown block is mounted at the head of the mast, and a traveling block is located between the head and foot of the mast. These blocks are operatively connected by a drilling line that also is wound on the drawworks. Means are provided for detachably connecting the traveling block with the barge near the track. Then, when the line is reeled in by the drawworks, the mast will push the skid base outwardly along the track so that the base can be transferred from the barge to an adjacent stationary support, such as a marine drilling platform. The front end of the skid base may be provided with a sheave in position to receive a cable that is connected to the traveling block and to the barge near the inner end of the track when it is desired to return the base to the barge. By reeling in the drilling line on the drawworks, the cable will pull against the base sheave and thereby pull the base off the platform and back onto the track on the barge. To permit the base to remain substantially level if the barge rolls during the period that the base is being secured to the platform, the mast is flexibly supported on the barge so that the movements of the barge will not disturb the base appreciably.

1' The preferred embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which being towed to or from a well-drilling site, the bar 21- Fig. '1 is aside view of our equipment showing an Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 1, but with the rig about to be transferred back to the barge.

Referring to Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawings, a suitable tender or barge 1 has a track 2 mounted on one end of it. This track generally, but not necessarily, will be inclined upwardly and away from the barge to form a ramp. As it often is desirable to be able to adjust the height of the upper end of the ramp above the barge, the lower end may be hinged to the barge at 3 and its opposite end supported by suitable jacks 4. Slidable lengthwise of the track is the skid base 6 of an oil well drilling mast 7. The base is shown in the process of being moved up the track. To reduce friction between the base and the ramp, the upper end of the ramp is provided with a transverse roller 8 engaging the bottom of the base, and the lower end of the base is provided with a similar roller 9 resting on the ramp.

A drawworks 11 and driving engines 12 are rigidly mounted on the upper or rear half of the base, while the foot of the reclining mast is hinged at 13 on a horizontal axis to the forward part of the base. The mast extends forward along the barge and may even project from its opposite end. Mounted on the head of the mast is a crown block 14, over which a drilling line 15 extends back over the mast and a gin pole 16 to the drawworks. The opposite end portion of the line is strung from the crown block around a traveling block 17 located between the head and foot of the mast. The traveling block is detachably connected to the barge near the ramp by any suitable means, such as a sling 18 secured to anchor brackets 19 on the barge at opposite sides of the ramp. The mid portion of the reclining mast is supported in a cradle that includes a supporting bar 21 suspended by flexible means between a pair of upright frames 22. Although the flexible means may be in the form of pivoted links or a pair of cables connecting the opposite ends of the bar with the tops of the frames, it is preferred to use a single cable 23 that has one end anchored to the barge at one side of the mast. The cable extends up over sheaves 24 in the upper ends of the two frames and then down to a winch 25. Between the frames, the cable is suspended in a loop that passes beneath sheaves 26 that support the opposite ends of bar 21. The top of the bar preferably supports a pair of rollers 27, on which the mast rests and can roll. While the barge is is held rigidly in place by inclined braces 28 removable connected to it and to the lower part of frames 22. When the barge reaches the well site and is to be unloaded, the braces are removed so that the mast-support ing bar hangs free between the two frames. Between roller 27 there is another roller 29, across which extends line 15 strung between the crown block and the traveling block.

The barge is anchored securely a short distance from a drilling platform 31 that has been built above the water. Usually the platform will extend farther above the water than the barge does, so the upper end of the inclined track 2 is adjusted by jacks 4 to cause the skid base 6 to extend slightly above the platform as the base is moved up' the ramp.v This movement of the base is produced by operating drawworks 11 to reel in drilling line 15. This will shorten the distance between the crown block and the traveling block, but as the traveling block is anchored to the barge the crown block will have to move toward it. This will cause the mast to push the skid base up the ramp and thereby project the upper end of the base above the platform as shown in Fig. 1. As the base is pushed farther up the track its center of gravity will pass over track roller Sand then the base will tilt down onto. the platform. At any time that it becomes desirable, the height of the head of the mast can be changedby-ope'rating winch 25 to raise or. lower mast-supporting, bar 21; The drawworks continues to be operated until the mast pushes the base across the platform the desired distance. a 'The base is, then securely fastened to the platform in any suitable manner. During this fastening operation the barge may roll, but thatwill not affect the base because the flexible connection between the barge and. the mast mclu'ding means hinging the lower end' of the track to the at the cradle allows the barge to roll independently of the mast, as shown in Fig. 3. Rising and falling. ofthebarge isof no concern because the mast is hinged to the base at 13. After the base has been secured to the platform, the traveling block is disconnected from the barge and is connected in a well-known manner to a sling (not shown) connected with the top of the gin pole. The mast then can be raised to upright position against the ginpole by merely reeling in the drilling line by means of the drawworks.

When a well has been completed and it is desired to move the drilling rig to another location, the mast is swung down to a reclining position on supporting bar 21 4 with its foot hinged to the base and its head located at the opposite end of the barge, a crown block at the head of the mast, a traveling block between the head and foot of the mast, a drilling line strung around the traveling block and the crown block and wound on the drawworks, means between the traveling block and said one end of the barge for detachably connecting the traveling block with the barge, and means for operating the drawworks to reel said line thereon and cause the mast to push the skid. base up the track and away from the barge so that the base can be deposited on an adjacent support higher than the barge.

4. Oil well drilling equipment according to claim 3,

barge, and a jack beneath the, track for adjusting its upper end vertically.

5. Oil well drilling equipment comprising a barge, a

' track mounted on one end of the barge, a skid base resting in the barge cradle, as shown in Fig. 4, and the traveling platform, the drawworks is operated to reel in drilling line 15. This pulls the traveling block toward the head of the mast and thereby causes the sling to pull the base forward onto and down the barge ramp to its traveling position. The removable braces 28 are then connected to the bar 21 in the cradle to hold the mast steady, and then the barge can be towed away- With equipment as described herein, the entire drilling rig can be transferred as a unit to and from a barge without the use of a crane or the like. All of the power for the transfer is supplied by the drawworks of the rig, which obviously is a great advantage.

According to the provisions of the patent statutes, we have explained the principle of our invention and have illustrated and described what we now consider to represent its best embodiment. However, we desire to have it understood that, within the scope of the appended claims, the invention may be practiced otherwise than as specifically illustrated and described.

We claim:

1. Oil well drilling equipment comprising a barge, a track mounted on one end of the barge, a skid. base resting on the track, drawworks rigidly mounted on said base, a reclining mast extending lengthwise of the barge with its foot hinged to thebase and its head located at the opposite end of the barge, a crown block at the head of the mast, a traveling block between the head and foot of the mast, a drilling line strung around the traveling block and the crown block and wound on the drawworks, means between the traveling block and said one end of the barge for detachably connecting the traveling block with the barge, and means for operating the drawworks to reel said line thereon and cause the mast to push the skid base outwardly along the track so that the base can be transferred from the barge to an adjacent stationary support independent of the barge.

2. Oil well drilling equipment according to claim I, Q

including means for adjusting said track vertically.

3. Oil well drilling equipment comprising a barge, an upwardly and outwardly inclined track mounted on one end of the barge and projecting therefrom, a skid base resting on the track, drawworks rigidly mounted on said base, a reclining mast extending lengthwise of the barge on-ther track, drawworks rigidly mounted on said base, a. reclining mast extending lengthwise of the barge with its foot hinged to the base and its head located at the opposite end of the barge, a crown block at the head of themast, a traveling block between the head and foot of the mast, a drilling line strung around the traveling block and the crown block and wound on the drawworks, means adapted to detachably connect the traveling block with the barge near said track, means for operating the drawworks to reel said line thereon and cause the mast to push the skid base outwardly along the track, and a sheave mounted on the inner end of the skid base in position to receive a cable adapted to connect to the traveling block and to the barge near the front end of said track when the base is adjacent the outer end of the track, whereby reeling in the drilling line will cause said cable to pull the base inwardly along the track.

6. Oil well drilling equipment comprising a barge, a track mounted on one end of the barge, a skid base rests ing on the track, drawworks rigidly mounted on said base, a reclining mast extending lengthwise of the barge with its foot hinged to the base and its head located at the opposite end of the barge, a crown block at the head of the mast, a traveling block between the head and foot of the mast, a drilling line strung around the traveling block and the crown block and wound on the drawworks, means for detachably connecting the traveling block with the barge near said track, means for operating the draw-. works to reel said line thereon and cause the mast to push the skid base outwardly along the track so that the base can be transferred from the barge to. an adjacent stationary support independent of the barge, a support for the mast between its head and foot, and means mounted on the barge flexibly suspending said support to permit the barge to move laterally back and forth without straining the mast. 1

7. Oil well drilling equipment according to claim 6, in which said suspending means include cable means suspended between upright members at opposite sides of the mast.

8. Oil well drilling equipment according to claim 6, in which said suspending means include upright members at opposite sides of the mast and extending above it, a cable suspended between said members from their upper ends and passing beneath the mast for supporting said mast support, and a winch connected to one end of the cable for varying the length of the cable between said upright members.

9. Oil well drilling equipment according to claim 6', in which said mast support includes rollers supporting the mast for longitudinal movement across the support.

10. Oil well drilling equipment according to claim 6, including removable braces holding said mast support in fixed position on the barge while it is sailing.

11. Oil well drilling equipment comprising a barge, a mast base above one end of the barge, means on the barge supporting said base, drawworks rigidly mounted the barge with its foot hinged to the base and its head located near the opposite end of the barge, a crown block at the head of the mast, a traveling block between the head and foot of the mast, a drilling line strung around the traveling block and the crown block and wound on the drawworks, upright members at opposite sides of the mast and extending above it, a cable suspended between said members from their upper ends and passing beneath end of the cable for varying its length between said upright members to vary the height of the mast above the barge.

the mast for supporting it, and a winch connected to one 10 2,817,212

UNITED STATES PATENTS White June 18, 1940 Woolslayer et a1. 'Iu1y 12, 1949 Rowe July 14, 1953 Stubbs Dec. 4, 1957 

